Grades: Food, Pharmaceutical, Technical and Oil drilling grades of varying mesh sizes (40, 80 & 200 mesh) available. There are also options for low dusting grades. This is ValidIT, inSYTE and FEMAS approved.
Packaging: Material is usually available in 25 kilo nett bags. We can also offer in bespoke packaging & labelling if required.
Availability: Normally a stock item.
Material: Xanthan gum is a gelling and thickening agent used predominantly in the food, pet food, homecare, oil drilling and cosmetic industries. A white to cream powder with a slightly grainy texture, Xanthan gum is produced from simple sugars using a batch fermentation process.
Xanthan gum is highly soluble, easily dissolving in water irrespective of temperature, salt concentration or pH level. Neither do these conditions impact upon its viscosity. You do need to stir it evenly to get the best effect. Simply put, the higher the ratio of Xanthan gum to liquid, the thicker the liquid will become.
Uses of Xanthan Gum
The Food Industry
Xanthan gum was approved for use in food in 1968. Also known as E number E415, Xanthan gum is widely used to stabilise sauces and dressings and prevent them from splitting. It is also used in the creation of ice cream to produce a creamier, smoother texture. It does this by minimising the formation of ice crystals which give a grainier texture.
The past decade has seen a rise in people purchasing Xanthan gum for their home baking and so it is now stocked by many supermarkets. People particularly like to use it when experimenting with their own homemade oil and vinegar dressings or when baking tasty gluten-free treats. Normal wheat flour contains gluten which is what enables it to firmly bind with other ingredients. Gluten-free alternatives such as cornmeal or rice flour, however, lack this important binding element. The addition of Xanthan gum helps to solve this problem.
Its thickening properties are frequently used in combination with egg whites as people seek to avoid the fats and emulsifiers found in egg yolk. In addition, it doesn’t typically alter the appearance or taste of food or drink so is commonly used by those who suffer from swallowing disorders.
Xanthan gum can also be used to extend the expiration date of food by preventing water loss whilst still retaining flavour. For this reason it is frequently used in frozen food.
Oil Drilling
Drilling muds are a vital component of the oil drilling process, but they often need thickening with xanthan gum before use. One of the main purposes of drilling mud is to keep solids afloat as they are returned to the surface, a particular issue within horizontal drilling. Large quantities of Xanthan gum are used to achieve the perfect viscosity. It is used for similar reasons when concrete is poured underwater. Elsewhere in the oil industry, Xanthan gum is used as a displacement agent for oil exploration.
Cosmetics
As well as helping to bind ingredients together, Xanthan gum’s excellent water retention gives it good skin hydration properties. It helps smooth out the texture of cosmetic products making them more pleasant to use, particularly skincare products. Xanthan gum is also used in shampoos and other lotions to produce that distinctive and much sought-after lather. As a binding agent it is frequently used in toothpaste and fake blood.